December 07, 2011

TCU co-OC Justin Fuente tapped for Memphis job, Patterson confirms

TCU co-offensive coordinator Justin Fuente will be announced as Memphis’ head coach at noon today, Gary Patterson confirmed late Wednesday.The Memphis job opened up after Larry Porter was fired after the Tigers lost Nov. 26. Porter went 3-21 in two seasons.Fuente, 35, who was named co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2009 after serving two season as the Frogs’ running backs coach, helped set new standards for TCU offense the last three seasons. The offense set school records for yards and points scored in 2009 and 2010 behind Fuente and co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach Jarrett Anderson.TCU’s 2011 offense, behind first-year starting quarterback Casey Pachall, has put up similar numbers. The ’11 offense is averaging 444 yards and 41.7 points a game. Last year, the Frogs averaged 476.8 yards and 41.6 points with quarterback Andy Dalton and a slew of senior receivers.Fuente came to TCU after six seasons at Illinois State, including the last three as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Fuente grew up in Tulsa, played quarterback at Oklahoma for two years before transferring to and graduating from Murray State.Fuente has been rumored for other jobs in the past, including interviewing for the LSU offensive coordinator opening last year.